Low Sperm Count

[Blueshell]

I need to write to get this of my chest as at the moment I need to be the strong one.

To give you the history we have been TTC since March 2005 and last month DH and I went to the doctors as I had been told that you should try for a year before going to the doctors to find out if anything is wrong.

Well we went to the doctors and he took blood and urine from me and sent me for an ultrasound and asked DH to do a sperm test. All my results came back fine and he said he couldn't see any reason for why I wasn't pregnant yet. He put me on Diabex to regulate my periods and help me lose weight. Then he looked at DH results and said he needed him to do them again as he wasn't happy with the results. I felt really bad for DH as he has taken it quite hard. He did a second test and we went back for the results Friday just gone. However on the Thursday night we received a letter from the doctor telling us to come back as he wanted to discuss the results so we knew it wasn't going to be good news.

Turns out that DH has a low sperm count and the motility isn't crash hot either. Doctor has taken some blood to check hormone levels and he now needs to go for an ultrasound to check everything is okay downstairs. If the blood test comes back with low hormone levels he will need to start hormone injections which he is not too happy about as they are basically steriods.

I am really scared as his brother had been TTC for 5 years and basically got the same results but his hormone levels were normal so there was nothing they could do to help him except for IVF.

DH has now been in a depressive mood for the last 3 weeks and this news on Friday have not helped at all - he has taken it really badly and now I need to be the strong one which can be really hard as at times all I want to do is cry for what we don't have. But I under no circumstances want him to feel bad for it.

The most frustating thing is he has never smoked, done drugs, binge drinked and is a good weight!!

I just don't know what to do and if his other results come back normal I don't know what that will mean. I was speaking to my mum about it today and I know she was trying to help by saying "not being able to have kids doesn't mean the end of the world" but it didn't really help!!

Has anyone else had a similar problem or got a BFP with a low sperm count. Am open to any advice / support at this point in time!!

[Dancing Girl]

Hi Michelle

My DH was tested about 6 years ago and was advised that he had a really low count (about a 1 in 1100 chance of impregnating a woman).

We started trying about 6 months ago (when I went off the pill) and I just got a BFP this morning. That was after he went to the doctors last month and had another sperm test done (basically to see if it was him or me that had issues) and his test came back with normal count and normal motility.

I have no idea what changed the count but it DID change. I've heard that zinc can assist with sperm count and motility. Maybe that could help??

Anyway, good luck with everything and I hope you get a BFP soon :fingerscrossed:

[Blueshell]

Thanks Dancing Girl and a big congratulations on the BFP!!

I have Zinc tablets which I will try and get DH to take (he hates taking tablets - just like a little kid!!)

[SuperWoman]

Hi Blueshell, i know exactly what you are feeling right now. We went through the same thing. My DH took it very badly and blamed himself as to why we werent getting pregnant, It was so hard to stay strong and positive for him but i did. I broke down infront of my mun and best friend instead. We ended up doing IVF and were blessed with our baby boy last year. We tried naturally for 2 years and nothing was happening so we went doctors and found out about DH sperm count. We started IVF straight away, it was hard and emotionally draining but all worth it in the end. MY DH went to see a natrapath as well and that helped increase his sperm count a little too so we are hoping that next time we fall pregnant naturally! If you ever wanna chat you can PM me. Take care!!:hugs:

[leilani07]

Hi Blueshell,
We were in the same boat as you for a while. DH and I had been TTC for over a year when I decided that I needed some answers. I got myself checked out first and was diagnosed with PCOS. I was soooo down in the dumps but DH was there to keep me smiling, with all the answers.
When it came to see our fertility specialist, she said that before she prescribed the fertility drugs for me she needed to check DH's sperm count- "just in case" so that she knew for sure what she was treating. (No use giving me the drugs and "fixing" me up if DH had issues too....) So, anyway he did the test and yep, low sperm count. I was just devastated. He could not believe it - he was now utterly depressed. We both had issues!!!!!
She told us to wait 10 weeks. 10 weeks!!!! and do the test again. In that time I read EVERYTHING I could on increasing sperm count. I had him off caffeine, softdrinks, (he doesn't drink alcohol anyway - but that was out), eating only 9 grain bread, 2 pieces of fruit a day, loads of water, HEAPs of vitamin C and a multivitamin with zinc, no underwear, increased exercise........
After the second test he was given the all clear. We have just started with the fertility drugs this month.
I'm not sure if the lifestyle changes made a difference....he was already a healthy, active person. It just didn't make sense to me either.
The only light at the end of my tunnel is that we are very lucky that we have other options, other medical interventions to help us. Keep your chin up. Read as much as you can and be informed. There will be something out there to help you. Best wishes :hugs:

[Puk]

I'm sorry to hear about your problem Blueshell, what a difficult situation for you and your husband to be in. In a couple more months we will be going for the same tests as we started trying in July and i'm scared. I can only imagine how you feel. I have no advice to give i'm afraid but you can pm me any time you want to talk. Good luck and i hope it happens for you soon.
By the way, i just bought Zinc tablets for my husband. I figured, it couldn't hurt!

[Blueshell]

Thanks bradysmum - it is good to know that somebody else knows exactly what I am feeling - I am determined to stay strong in front of him and be there for him. Especially since I have seen the way my SIL treats her husband - making it quite clear it is his fault. I haven't broken down yet and am determined not to although I can feel it coming. I am determined not to do it in front of him. I also have a friend who is trying so don't feel like I can break down in front of her but I have enough friend who I know I can run too if it gets on top of me. Just find it easier to talk on the computer sometimes instead of saying it out loud. I have started to try and lose weight as I know that if we have to go down the IVF path they will tell me I am too overweight!! One step at a time - I know!!

leilani07 - 10 weeks - OMG!! I hope the fertility drugs work for you. I am lucky that my doctor is pretty good at moving with speed - at this point anyway!! Thanks for the good wishes - hoping you have the best of luck!!

Puk - I hope you don't have to go through the tests - I won't lie when I had the ultrasound there was this small part of me hoping that the doctor would say "oh look at that there is a baby there" but it wasn't too be.

I know that this will make us stronger and I must be thankful for that. I just need to get him to talk to me as he tends to hold it all inside.

[SuperWoman]

Blueshell, big hugs to you!!!:hugs: :hugs:

Yes, it will make you stronger, it did for us. It was difficult at first but if you stick together (remember you are a team), and support eachother it will be fine. Someone told me once "it only takes 1 sperm to make a baby" and it is soooooooooooooooo true. Thats what I used to tell my DH, we only need one to have a baby. I know right now it is hard to see any positive outcomes but never give up hope!!!:hugs: :hugs:

[kassa]

Blueshell,

We found ourselves in a simular situation last year. We were trying for about 8 months and I thought it was time to check things out with both of us. We booked into our local family planning clinic to get the test run. I did a number of blood test/ultrasounds etc and all my results came back perfect. DH did his semen test and it came back with a zero count. We were in shock and my DH did another semen test and it again came back zero. The local family planning centre basically said sorry you will have to look at donor sperm. We were both in shock and left the clinic. I was a mess and then went to my local GP and told him the sorry and he said that the doctor at the family planning clinic has given me wrong advice and they are ways that we can get pregnant. Anyway long story short, we went to an amazing IVF doctor and he was able to extract sperm direct from DH testies and we are now 31 weeks pregnant. I just wanted to left you know that there are options available to you.

DH was really down about the whole situation and we worked through everything as a team. All I can suggest is to have great communication. Men seem to bottle things up and I was the one that always talked about things and reassured hubby that we will get through this. It has defiantly made as closer as a couple.

I wish you all the best.

PS if you are in Brisbane I can recommend a great specialist for male fertility issues.

[Blueshell]

Thanks Kassa - Congratulations on your little miracle!! I hope it all goes well for you!!

It is good to hear from others that have been in a similar situation and gotten through it!!

Thanks girls for the support!!

[justtwogirls22]

hi blueshell
my exdh had low sperm count with bad motility & before trying IVF we went to a natural therapy lady called ruth sharkey on the gold coast - i dont think she does it anymore but someone has taken over - anyway we had to fill out a pretty comprehensive questionaire & some other stuff & she mixed up this dreadful tasting tonic (different for each of us) which we had to have a teaspoon of each morning - his sperm count did increase though not enough to penetrate an egg so ended up with ICSI though none of my embroyos took
if you want some more details - just pm me
good luck with everything & hopefully your DH wont be feeling so bad when he realises how common it is

[Cheeky Little Monkey]

Ever thought of trying a chinese herbalist and accupuncture? We did it after being told IVF ICSI was our only option.
We now have a 20 week old "miracle" baby.
Anything is worth a shot. If you want any further info about it PM me :)
I can recommend a great guy on the Gold Coast who my husband refers to as a Genius because without him we wouldnt have our little girl.